Chief Executive Officer

CMI — Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation in Helsinki invites applications for a Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation and shape the future of peacemaking. You will drive strategy, governance, and external relations, reporting to the Board and guiding a diverse leadership team.

The successful candidate will bring extensive senior leadership in diplomacy or peace processes, a strong international network, and a proven ability to mobilise resources while upholding independence and

Qualifications

• Substantial senior-level experience in diplomacy, mediation or peace processes.
• Executive leadership in a complex, project-based environment such as an international organisation or foundation.
• Proven ability to develop strategy and lead organisational change.
• Political acumen and credibility to engage at highest levels.
• Track record of mobilising resources and building long-term funder relationships.
• Fluency in English; Finnish is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organisation’s strategy, governance and funding, in line with the Foundation’s independence.
• Represent CMI at high political and diplomatic levels and build trusted relationships with governments, donors and partners.
• Guide the Leadership Team and ensure sound financial management, governance and risk management.
• Drive development of new mediation approaches addressing evolving international challenges.

Skills

International diplomacy

Executive leadership

Strategic vision

Political acumen

Resource mobilization

Leadership credibility

English fluency

Education

Higher university degree

Job description

This conviction of Nobel Peace Laureate and former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari is at the heart of CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation.

CMI is an independent Finnish foundation working to prevent and resolve conflicts through dialogue and mediation. Its work spans Asia, Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. We build trust across political divides and support those closest to a conflict in shaping their own paths towards peace.

CMI is now looking for a Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation and help shape the future of peacemaking.

The role

As CEO, you will have overall responsibility for CMI’s leadership and direction. You will serve as the Foundation’s legal chief executive under the Finnish Foundations Act, report to the Board and chair the Leadership Team. Together with the Leadership Team, you will guide CMI’s strategic choices and ensure that the organisation focuses its expertise where it can add distinctive value.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Leading the implementation and development of CMI’s strategy and deciding – together with the Leadership Team – where CMI engages and where it can add distinctive value.
• Representing CMI at the highest political and diplomatic levels and building trusted relationships with governments, multilateral and regional organisations, and donors and partners, while safeguarding the discretion that mediation requires.
• Deepening CMI’s engagement with Finland’s political institutions while broadening support among international partners.
• Leading a diverse expert organisation as one team. You will be present, accessible and transparent, trust the expertise of your teams and give them room to lead their own work.
• Securing a diversified and sustainable funding base that protects CMI’s independence in a competitive funding environment.
• Ensuring sound financial management, governance, risk management, security and compliance, including implementing the systems needed to meet growing grant management requirements.
• Driving the development of new approaches to mediation that address emerging challenges and opportunities in a changing international order.

What we are looking for

We are looking for an internationally experienced senior leader who combines a strong understanding of diplomacy and peace processes with executive leadership experience. You have the political judgement and credibility to build trust at the highest levels, and your leadership style also fits CMI: independent, transparent and respectful of expertise.

We expect you to bring:

• Substantial senior-level experience in diplomacy, mediation or peace processes, together with a relevant international network that you are ready to mobilise for CMI.
• Executive leadership experience in a complex, project-based environment such as an international organisation, government, foundation or comparable institution.
• A track record of combining strategic vision with strong operational leadership and leading organisational change.
• Political acumen, a strong grasp of geopolitics and the multilateral system, and the credibility to build trust at the highest levels.
• Proven ability to mobilise resources and build lasting relationships with public and private funders.
• A leadership approach consistent with CMI’s values of independence, impartiality, integrity, respect for every individual and a collaborative, non-hierarchical way of working.
• Fluency in English. Proficiency in Finnish is an advantage, and other language skills are welcome.
• A higher university degree is an advantage.

Leading CMI

This is a leadership role with responsibility for both CMI’s international mission and the organisation behind it. The next CEO will carry forward President Martti Ahtisaari’s legacy while making strategic choices about where CMI’s expertise and independent role can best support peace efforts. They will also protect its independence and ensure that its mediation practice continues to develop.

• The position is based in Helsinki, Finland.
• The role involves regular travel to Brussels and the regions where CMI works.
• The CEO reports to the Board and chairs CMI’s Leadership Team.

CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation is one of the world’s leading peace mediation organisations and a trusted partner in preventing and resolving political conflicts through dialogue and mediation. Founded in 2000 by Nobel Peace Laureate and former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari, we are an independent Finnish organisation driven by the conviction that all conflicts can be resolved.

We bring together people who might not otherwise meet, build trust across political divides and support those closest to a conflict in shaping their own paths towards peace. Rooted in Finland and a Nordic tradition of dialogue, equality and cooperation, we combine the expertise of around 100 staff members and a network of around 100 experts with a commitment to inclusive peace processes internationally.

As the international order changes, we bring diverse mediation actors together to build cooperation and help shape the future of peacemaking. We work to create viable conditions for peace by strengthening peace processes, supporting people’s ability to resolve conflicts and advancing peacemaking policy and practice.